Report: Nets PG Deron Williams Agrees To Play for Turkish Team Besiktas

The 2011 NBA lockout is going to force some talent overseas, but Deron Williams is the first major name to make an international splash.

News broke this morning from Turkey that Williams has agreed in principle to play for Besiktas, according to TalkBasket.net. Turkish site ntvspor.net first reported the story.

It's a major win for the Turkish club that experimented with American talent last season by bringing in Allen Iverson, though that one didn't exactly work out to its favor.

Williams' contract reportedly has an out clause that will allow him to return stateside and play in the NBA as soon as the lockout is over, but it looks as if this one will be rather lengthy.

I certainly didn't imagine D-Will was going to be the first big-time talent to take his game to the international stage, but it appears even the biggest stars of the game know what's going to be in store with this lockout.

Williams, who clearly didn't want to stay inactive during the work stoppage, is expected to anchor the team as its season gets under way.

This news comes just days after the Nets had told Williams that they plan to pursue Dwight Howard, so if nothing else, it's interesting timing for the announcement.

The signing of D-Will is one of the most newsworthy items that has emerged since the lockout went into full effect just about a week ago, but it probably won't be the last.

Williams' signing has set the stage for some big names to take their talents to the international platform, and it should be interesting to see how the dominoes fall after this one.